Frugal Living during Winter

• #Frugal Living
• #Fitness
• #Paranoid Times
• #Money Saving
• #Gardening
• #Poultry Keeping
• #Cycling
• #Foraging
• #Free Food
• #Alternative Energy
• #Household Budgets
• #Food on a Budget
• #Money Challenges
• #Small Space Living
• #How to...

Following a frugal regime during winter is never easy. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks or who agrees or disagrees with our lifestyle choices, it's always around February that we could happily crank up the heating and throw extra logs on the fire... or else pack up and head for warmer, drier climes!

================

 

 

Wintertime is dragging on without any definite signs that it's either going to arrive here with a vengeance or extend its chilly, wet, occasionally frosty days. Will it snow? Will the temperatures plummet to 10 below freezing just as we expect springtime to arrive? Who knows? All I know is that this time of year brings new challenges - money and otherwise. We eventually got the caravan cleaned, aired and made up ready for the arrival of our first visitors: the season opens this weekend and the water pipes, thankfully, hadn't frozen. It's probably warmer in the caravan than in the house, if I'm honest. Living in a smaller space is always going to be cheaper, as it's easier to heat.

CHILLY MORNINGS

At home, the thermometer on the sitting-room wall reads just below 6 Degrees C in the mornings, as there's no central heating here and we still haven't resolved the issue of deciding on the best way forward.

The open fire heats hot water on a back boiler, which gets pumped around the house and heats 5 radiators quite adequately - if you have a full time stoker, a limitless supply of perfectly dry kindling, a self-filling coal bunker and a guarantee that the power stays on to keep the electric pump running. Last week the power went out!

Just as I had banked up the fire and the water in the boiler was starting to bubble, sudden blackness and silence descended - barring the roar of the fire and the boiling water! Flicking a switch is fine if you have one, but there is no such switch to extinguish a blazing fire in the hearth while the pipes are rattling like they're ready to explode! (Getting slightly paranoid at this possibility)

CAN A BOILER BLOW UP OR BURST?

Literally blind panic while retrieving torches and candles... A fine mist water spray and a dose of salt extinguished the remains of the fire after I precariously decanted red hot coals to the multi-fuel stove in the room across the hall! I do NOT recommend this at all, but until I find out for sure if a back-boiler really can explode from overheating while the power is out, I have lost trust in this solid fuel system. My faith in uninterrupted electricity supply has never been strong, as I've pretty much always lived in the country. I should know better by now, but these types of home improvements cost thousands of pounds.

More number-crunching work required and I really do wish I had been able to afford to replace the entire heating system all at the same time. I think I'd now prefer a bigger multi-fuel stove, but keeping a supply of perfectly dry logs is difficult in such a wet climate.

GARDENING, POULTRY KEEPING AND WORMS IN WINTER

Gardening has fallen by the wayside completely - the ground is saturated, the earth just mud - even the two remaining ducks are getting fed up with it. They should be happy once their new run is completed and their pond thaws. The hens have settled well into their new run, away from the flood risk part of the garden and we're even getting an occasional egg from the young (2 year-old) hen. The little banties are now 7 years old, so I'm not expecting too much from them. Garden hens are not frugal if you're in it for their lifetime, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

The wormery is doing surprisingly well, despite the weather. I think with it being so mild for much of the time, the wrigglers have just kept on eating, so here's hoping we get some decent compost this year. I can probably count on one hand how often our food recycling bin has ever gone out for council collection!

KEEP ACTIVE - FEBRUARY'S FRUGAL FITNESS MONTH

Something I must practice as much as I preach, as keeping fit and healthy helps your metabolism and the extra exertion keeps the blood pumping sufficiently to prevent hypothermia setting in... move it, move it, move it... anything, anywhere, just keep something moving. Right now, only my fingers are moving because, once again, I'm sat at the computer. Ho hum... I'm a dismal failure at the physical fitness in February but I have remained vigilant with the frugal finances! Just need to try to reap the benefits of some savings interest from somewhere, even if it is a mere 0.5%

EXERCISE IS FREE!

You'd think I would get to grips with this fact and make the most of it whenever possible! For this reason, I fully intend marching into March, making it all the way through the month, exercising like a mad March hare (without boxing) then marching right out of there, into April.

CYCLING

I haven't even sat on my bike since last Autumn! I think it's safe to say I am no cyclist, just a fair-weather peddler. The only pedlar I'm ever going to be is the one at the gate trying to sell eggs, fruit and veg! Riding a bike in winter weather just is not for me - I'm too paranoid about being run over by a logging lorry, tractor or milk tanker!

ANOTHER BIG BANG!

After the hot coal sprint, any almighty bang and rumble had me worried. The entire house shook and I ran outside half-expecting to see a collapsed chimney had crashed down from the roof. Thankfully not! We hadn't a clue what had caused it, but the poor cat looked terrified!

Not long after that, another almighty explosion rocked the house... but it had resonated from the hill at the back of the house. I seriously thought the farm's wind turbine had exploded, but it was still there, still turning.

 

I went and spoke to the nearest neighbour - she had felt the explosion, too, but she was able to alert us to the war games being played nearby! How come I had missed that piece of news? Yes, we had seen the helicopters buzzing about and we'd even had two huge Hercules planes fly over the previous day, but that's not unusual for this area. A trip along the shore road showed there were more than just planes nearby.

WINTER TREE PLANTING

Excitement over - but blasting not over! We now have tree harvesting, road repairs and quarrying all going on around us at Frugaldom. Tree planting is going to be noisier than normal, I expect, but this isn't holding up proceedings - it's mainly the weather that's causing the delays!

TREE SPONSORING

1,000 willows, 25 heritage apple trees, 420 assorted natives and a small copse of oaks to be planted before the end of March. We would love to have actual help planting but no amount of posting online about it gets our news read by anyone close enough who has the free time to spare. You can lead folks to the Internet but you can't make them read specific information.

 

Having invested in 25 heritage Galloway Pippin apple trees for the new orchard, I am now seeking sponsors for each of them. If you would like to help support the Frugaldom project, all the options are listed on www.Frugaldom.com  and in the www.frugalshop.co.uk

POST TAGGING

As well as seeking tree sponsors for the orchard, we have several other ways available, both for individuals and businesses. Fencing the project is costing thousands of pounds, so we are tagging the posts with engraved discs displaying the chosen details of those who take part.

Our Tag-a-post scheme will continue for as long as it takes to fence the corrals, then we'll keep going - around the barnyard, along the track and around the nature walk. It would be fantastic if each new post got tagged, though I fear this could take longer than I have left, as the Frugaldom project needs many, many new posts.

Again, you can find out more about our sponsorship and membership options by using the links on the Frugaldom website or by visiting the Frugal Shop.

Many thanks to all who have supported us so far - I hope you will all be able to join us here in May 2017 for our very first Frugalfest get together. Or sooner, if you choose.

Back to keeping warm - we're chopping up as many of the old posts as possible and drying them for firewood. Frugaldom is huge compared to a garden, so there is more than enough scrap wood by way of logs and branches for any of our members to share, if you care to go the DIY route and collect them from site. (By prior arrangement only.)

PORTABLE SOLAR KIT

I am now looking seriously at investing in a small, portable solar kit for lighting the barn and for emergency use at home or at the caravan. I'm not sure how money-saving it may be, so it has to be seen as an investment. Renewable energy on a stand alone system has to be worth considering, so the possibility of incorporating a small wind turbine on the Frugaldom barn has not been ruled out, either. There are some great kits developing and these are gradually falling within the affordability of individuals, even those of us on a frugal budget.

My incomplete list of current winter warmers and emergency back-up supplies:

• Extra layers, including thermals
• Fleece has become part of my daily wardrobe
• Woolly leg-warmers
• Double thickness socks
• Warm gloves and a hat - your head loses a huge amount of your body heat.
• Furry slippers (Indoors only!)
• Flasks for filling with hot water (I have a 5 litre one that gets filled from the kettle on the stove)
• Cooking facility - BBQ, gas camping stove, log burner
• Insulated mugs
• Hot drinks, soup and instant hot meal options
• Bottled water (if you rely on electric filters or pumps for well water)
• Exercise or extra movement - a short, brisk walk outside or even up and down stairs or around the house works
• Electric blanket
• Hot water bottle / wheat bags
• Extra duvet
• Extra under-blanket - if your bed has slats, lay cardboard over the top, below the mattress, as added insulation
• Knitted blankets from scrap wool - keeps you warm even while knitting
• Burnable organic waste turned into fuel!
• Candles
• Rechargeable wind-up torch
• Coal in the bunker
• Logs in the log store
• Old newspapers (provided by neighbours)
• Matches and extra matches
• Hand and foot warmers - anyone tried these? Shame they're disposable but as emergency back-up when working outdoors in freezing temperatures, they sound good!
• Alternative energy source - even battery power is better than no power - being able to see during power cuts (or when off grid) is paramount to your own safety, as the last thing you want to do is fall over or walk into something.

How are you dealing winter on a budget? Is heating costing more than eating? It certainly does here!

Life of Pie

The world, according to Frugaldom, is a complete package. We have all we need to create all that we want and if we break it, we have the wherewithal to fix it. Nothing is fake, everything is real - just take the time to look into this amazing frugal bubble that is our world. It's like the life of pie!

Life of Pie!

Humour me, if you will. I'm still the same person living the same frugal life surrounded by the same people, same space and same basic ingredients that make up Frugaldom and the world around me. Yes, some faces and places may have changed, some friends and family have passed along the way and new little humans have been born into our extended family, but nothing much has actually changed. We are still in this same bubble that holds all the secrets and solutions to all the mysteries. It still dumbfounds me that some people just can't see the bigger picture when it comes to looking after our spinning rock as it hurtles around that blazing ball that we call the sun.

Planet Earth (Free Blog Photos)

Don't get me wrong, I'm no scientist, I'm just someone who likes to think more and spend less when it comes to the topics of money and life. I can't stand money but it's a necessary evil in our society. Whether we see it as paper notes, metal, coins, pebbles or digital points, it is merely a number that can represent pretty much anything else, anywhere else. Our imaginations know no bounds and are restricted only by how much we can experience, not by how much money we have. It's like pie - some of us can bake our own from very little while others are happy to pay whatever it takes for others to do it for them.

Our world is a mish-mash of every possible ingredient available to mankind and it is all contained within this giant, multi-layered, bubble oven that's heated by the sun and insulated or protected by the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere, atmosphere and any other invisible-force spheres that engulf our ball of spinning rock. They contain everything, dictate our weather, our climate, our tides and the phases of our moon. As far as mankind is concerned, nothing more gets added and nothing gets lost - it is baking mankind in an ever evolving life 'pie'.

Life of Pie

We have what we have and it is up to us all to keep making pie and sharing it accordingly. Some people will be researching and developing the very basic ingredients, some will be tweaking the recipe, some harvesting and preparing the ingredients and some making the dough. Some will be helping bake this never-ending pie while many more will be contributing to all the various fillings needed to help our spherical bakehouse stay in production and meanwhile, we all need to contribute to maintaining the oven, as a complete break-down would be globally catastrophic.

Sadly, there are those who will always want a larger slice of the pie than others and there are also those who aren't prepared to share their slice with anyone else under any circumstances - they'd rather pig out, get fat and dictate the pecking order. But one would do well to remember that when times get tough, those who spit feathers, bully the flock and crow loudest are likely to be next in the pie, even if it's just to bring peace to the neighbours.

Feed the world... every single person is contributing to the global pie in their own way - even if it doesn't turn out the way we like it.

There is only one way out of this kitchen and it isn't by any earthly door that anyone's ever found. We're in it together and we're in it for life... only you can decide how you choose to contribute. What holds it all together and keeps things going is the balance of nature and our combined, conscious efforts to maintain the equilibrium. I believe this is the very basic principle of life itself and that everything we amount to is what gets returned. Trying to lead a balanced life and helping those who can't should be first and foremost, in my mind. Money won't buy food, water, shelter or even fresh air if this bubble bursts, so why accumulate useless 'stuff' that has no meaning in the meaning of life unless you already have everything you need for a balanced and happy life? By all means, protect your investments, but spare a thought for those who have nothing.

We need to find alternatives to save our bubble from bursting!

www.scottishmultimedia.co.uk / Frugaldom

Tales from Frugaldom

The ever-continuing tales of frugal living in an attempt to give up the day job and pursue the dream of life in the fast lane of Frugaldom. A round-up of some recent events and the bare bones of being prepared.

---

The past few months have been busy here at Thrift Cottage. Slowly, I have managed to tick a couple of more items off my bucket list and 'to do' list, mainly in getting the kitchen into some sort of order and, most importantly, making my Will! Not wanting to dwell on the inevitable, but it is a simple precaution so I am prepared for the one guaranteed event in life. November, of course, is national Will Aid month, so if you feel loath to hand over your cash to a solicitor for the privilege of their writing up your last Will and testament, then select one who is donating the month's proceeds from such transactions to charity.

I have tried my best to follow a good eating plan and maintain a healthy lifestyle in an effort to curb weight gain over the winter months and to at least retain an element of fitness, especially for those occasional days that may be deemed suitable for a cycling trip to the field.

The costs of my frugal fitness plan haven't really impacted on my overall spending. In fact, it has probably contributed to a reduction in overall grocery spending, as I am simply reducing the amounts of everything I eat... even when forum members choose to send anonymous gifts in a vain attempt to lead me astray. I had to cycle twice as far, twice as quickly to work off this lot, and do without pudding more than once over the last few months after giving in to temptation more than once and with more than just these crisps!

I feel that retribution has been sufficiently served by way of the crock pot in my slow cooker having cracked, rendering it useless for frugal soup and stew making. It now needs replacing, so I'm watching for all the offers and hoping I can find a 6.5L replacement via Amazon, so I can part pay using free vouchers accrued through Topcashback.

Savings on the grocery spending have been many, especially since the start of the Asda home delivery trial in our rural corner of the country, but it also means that a few extras seem to find their way onto the orders - like 30p chocolate bars, family packs of biscuits and even the occasional cakes. These costs, however, are minimal in comparison to switching on the oven and spending an hour in the kitchen baking, when the time can be spent elsewhere, like at the computer typing up my 50,000 words in my first attempt at NaNoWriMo. Having spent the weekend out on site planting trees and with a visitor staying at the house, I have fallen behind with my word count, so this needs to be remedied as soon as possible. I made my $10 donation, pledging to write 50,000 so now I must complete that pledge.

The cost of feeding the electricity meter has increased by around 10% recently, counter-balanced a little by the odd power cuts that have affected us during the worst of the weather. A nice little rebate of £12.00 has helped prepare us for colder weather, as it equates to between 60 and 70kwh of 'free' electricity, in a round about sort of way.

Water rates don't affect us here in Scotland, as any water charges are incorporated into our Council Tax, but it did make me wonder how much was wasted when hundreds, possibly thousands of gallons of the stuff were flooding our street a few weeks ago after the water main suddenly burst. We were very lucky in that the torrent reached the front door but was repaired before it came over the threshold.

Over at the field, or Frugaldom, as it is now known by all, the month of near persistent rain has considerably raised the levels of the burns that flow around the land. We went along the roadside boundary and also walked across the main grassland, which is mostly marshland, and could clearly see the flood lines, so this should be useful information for future developments involving such things as live art structures and wildlife hides. I didn't venture down to the pond, as there just wasn't enough time to do everything that needed to be done during our weekend trip there.

Despite several weeks of rain, the marshland is not as treacherous as I was expecting. It would be an interesting project to clear out some of the old drainage ditches to create a network of mini ponds, interconnected by duck board walkways!

I was pleasantly surprised to discover several areas showing potential for cultivating into grassland, with one spot, known as bracken hill or bluebell hill, depending on the time of year, proving to be particularly dry, owing to its elevation above the rest of the surrounding land. Curious! The friend who accompanied me on my walkabout agreed that it could be an interesting research project to try discovering why this little land anomaly exists.

On top of bluebell / bracken hill looks like an ideal spot for a wildlife station, the slightly raised area providing an excellent viewpoint for a vast swathe of the project. Exciting times ahead, I feel.

Elsewhere around the field, there were several new fungi and moss species spotted. There were quite a few of this little fellow about the place - not sure what type of fungi it is but am hoping one of you reading this can let us know. :)

Tree planting as part of the Woodland Trust World War I Centenary Woodland Project

Despite having sent out over 100 invites, publicising the event online, notifying both of our local newspapers and alerting the nearby holiday park, the turnout for our event failed to entice anyone new on such a wet Saturday. By the Sunday, however, our core group had packed picnic lunches to make the most of the sunshine and spent the day planting trees, chatting and enjoying being outdoors.

The early morning sunshine was blurred by low clouds of fog rolling a blanket of dew over everything, including the little spider's web on the Frugaldom trading post. It really was a fine day for planting trees and getting the hedgerow in around the garden of gratitude.

The hedging around the area reserved as a gratitude garden has now been planted up with crab apples, elder and sloes with a few hazels and space remaining for other fruits and berries. I have plenty of cuttings from blackcurrants, raspberries, gooseberries and blackberries to go in between these to form a thick, edible hedge that will also, hopefully, entice wild birds and insects, not to mention happy foragers picking fruit and berries for jelly and cordial making in years to come.

I'm really pleased with the progress made over the space of just one weekend of planting and extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity for Frugaldom to become part of the World War I Centenary Woodland project. It will bring immense pleasure to many in the future, I am sure, as our gratitude garden develops and the new seating and picnic areas are created.

My problem now is working out how best to be there to actually get any of these great plans implemented. A small financial miracle is probably what most would wish for, but where is the challenge in that? I will start number crunching the list of possibilities now that they have been whittled down to just a few with real potential, then concentrate on how to take this plan forward. As my frugal living motto goes,

The less I spend, the more I can afford.

Motoring Moneysaving Tips Pre-MOT

The cost of keeping a safe, reliable car on the road can amount to a fair chunk of any frugal living budget, especially if that car is needed on a regular basis.

 

Making a few preliminary checks and doing the simpler things yourself before your MOT is due can save you a small fortune on potential garage bills. Here are a few moneysaving suggestions.

 

Information and graphics by www.motorparks.co.uk also available here

Visit the frugal blog for more moneysaving hints, tips and suggestions.

More Simple Savings in September

Into week three of our 'Simple Savings in September' Challenge and the courgettes are still growing - fabulous plants that just keep on giving more and more - I cook them in everything at this time of year, even omelettes and chocolate cake.

…

Having already begun setting up the project and welcoming various visitors, my thoughts are continually wandering over there, plotting and planning the overall lay-out and design of what will become a horticultural farm or smallholding with its own nature reserve. It has to be self-sustainable, in keeping with the frugal living ethos and with open access to allow our members the opportunity to become a part of it. The first plantings have been done but with all these … read more here

More Simple Savings in September

Simple Savings in September – Garden Foraging

Foraging is frugal fun whether done in your own back garden or along the roadsides and through the local woodlands. Today’s post is about garden foraging at Thrift Cottage and picking the last of the home grown produce as part of our Simple Savings in September challenge.

You don’t need a garden to grow or harvest your own food. Check out the photo blog and… read more here

How to Get Rid of Ants

How to Get Rid of Ants

This is my never-ending quandary and I'm about to try variations of everything I have learned over the past years, having experienced the problem several times. I normally try to ignore the little critturs unless they are gnawing on my plants but when I found an ants' nest inside the wormery, that was just a step too far!

Read more here about the various methods being deployed in Frugaldom gardens to deter the pesky wee beasties and then feel free to suggest any other alternatives you may be aware of or have tried with success. I do have some ‘Flour Helvas’ and am wondering if that could be used to good effect if I mixed it with baking powder.

One extra tip re the baking powder method – I keep an open tub with some in my fridge to adsorb odours, so I used it for the ants then replaced the fridge tub with fresh stuff. I call that frugal stock rotation. … Read more here

Addressing the Speaker of the House on the Subject of Small Gadgets.

Here in Frugaldom, I am forever trying to source great gadgets that can be relied upon in emergencies, but equally put to good use during normal, day-to-day life. We seem to have to deal with power cuts on a fairly regular basis, so anything electricity free is a good start.

The first handy gadget I encountered this year was, of course, my Ventus Twister - the foot pedal operated mini washer and spinner that allows you to do laundry without needing to plug into an electricity source. (Half price offer still stands if you use the code word 'laundry' at checkout when buying via the store. (See this post for details of our recent competition.)

But what about this for a handy wee gadget?

It's a tiny speaker, a mini boom box, if you like, complete with built-in FM radio, micro-card reader, flashy twinkling light display and a fully integrated battery, recharged via USB to computer or electrical adapter (also available from Ventus). It has a tiny, retractable aerial to help with radio tuning, with a booster available by way of plugging in a short cable, if necessary. (Special £5.00 off voucher code included later in this post .)

Read more here…

How to Make Frugal Piccalilli (Stage 1)

How to Make Frugal Piccalilli – It’s Frugalilli!

With a mountain of cucumbers and a fridge full of vegetables needing used, what better way to try preserving some vitamins in a tasty snack than to get them pickled?

Simple recipe that I hope works and an overnight salt bath for the vegetables… read more

Foraging for Frugal Food

  
Foraging for Frugal Food

Colourful, nutritious, tasty and free!

Foraged fruit and berries are brilliant. I had vowed that I wouldn't do any foraging this year, as I still have a shelf filled with assorted jams and jellies to use, plus tubs of garden-grown fruit in the freezer, but today's walk proved to be too tempting. Read more

 

NYK, Frugaldom

Big Adventures on a Little Shoestring

Things to do before I'm... 10?

The pink piggy

It is never too young to start your 'to do' list and learn how to budget so that you can afford to live a good life... is it? Frugal Gran at your service!

 

This is the first of a series of blog posts that I'll be including here, as this huge adventure unfolds. You can follow them by following the blog or by clicking on the link called 'Frugal Gran' that will appear in the index at the bottom of the blog. It's going to be fun, fun, fun! :)

 

It was eldest grand daughter's 9th birthday recently. Like all junior misses, birthday girls just wanna have fun... so she partied at the weekend with other junior friends.

 

But I wanted to do something a little bit different for this birthday, something that could grow and develop with her as she journeys through her final year of being a single digit age and then decide for herself if she wants to continue along the frugal path when she reaches the ripe old age of 10.

 

I devised a plan, a secret plan, one that involved a 'to do' list. Then, instead of giving her a wrapped-up, tied with bows gift, I issued dear grand daughter with her personalised 'official invite' to join the adventure... and awaited her reaction!

 

She absolutely loved it , is extremely excited and desperate to get started!

 

What so enthrals a 9 year-old, you might ask? Fun and frugal learning, that's what!

 

Here's how it works (so far) and I hope that you will all find this as entertaining as I did, should you choose to pursue a similar path. First of all, the secret paperwork needs to be assembled into a notebook format. Simply put, I printed out a homemade card on paper and inserted it inside several other sheets of paper, marked off headers saying 'NOTES' and added a 'Happy Birthday' graphic to the front. This is what it said inside:

 

==========================

Dear xxxx,

 

This is your very special birthday invitation to come to Thrift Cottage for holiday adventures. You can arrange to stay any time you want and we will have an adventure, no matter what the weather.

 

To prepare for these adventures, I have bought us some adventure kit, including the things in these photos.

 

I have been putting all the spare coins into the pink piggy bank, so we will count them all out when you come to stay. Then, we will go into town in search of our first big adventure before planning the next one.

 

Keep this special adventure booklet safe so you can keep a note and photos of things you do before your next birthday. Being 9 is going to be great fun!

Just to make sure we get plenty of time for extra special outdoor adventures, I have made sure we are all prepared for overnight stays. 

 

The big 'xxxx' storage space at Thrift Cottage will also include crafting stuff and sleepover items, just in case we manage to get out to do some camping. Even indoor camping can be fun!

 

I couldn't find us any pink sleeping bags and pillows, so blue and purple will need to do, but these will go with the tent.

 

Let's hope we get some nice sunny weather for the next school holidays so we can get started with our adventures as soon as possible.

 

=========================

 

School is already back, here in Scotland, so the next holiday that's long enough for a big adventure is mid-October. However, there is time to fit in a couple of mini adventures between now and then, even if it means indoor camping and planning future expeditions. Believe it or not, Frugal Gran is every bit as excited by all of this! I hope you will all enjoy following us over the next twelve months, as we go off in search of new knowledge that will, one day, become fantastic future memories. Everything will be done on a shoestring budget in an effort to discover just how much fun can be had while following a frugal lifestyle.

 

I'll let you know how much is in the pink piggy as soon as it has been officially counted.

 

Frugal Gran!

Edited in: We counted out the pennies from the piggy and managed to just squeak in at £40. :)

How Will I Ever Afford Retirement?

'Frugaldom' Could be the Answer.

Frugally philosophical thoughts about how to avoid abject poverty in the event that the State Pension collapses and we're left without an income.

 

Part 1

 

Continuing with my musings on the topic of retirement income, I was told not to take this lying down... so I lay down to contemplate the future!

 

We learn all the best lessons the hard way, I think, but I'm not entirely sure why that is. I suspect it's because we're usually too impatient and want to get on and enjoy ourselves without waiting to study the more intricate details - a bit like putting together a new DIY project without reading the instructions or, as we all know to our detriment, signing some agreement without reading the small print. We want the feel good factor and we want it now!

 

As previously mentioned, I got my tax return done for another year and I'm as poor as I thought I was. On the plus side, I have apparently paid enough qualifying years of National Insurance to entitle me to the full basic State Pension of £110.15 a week, but I need to wait until the end of 2030 before I can claim that! That's only another 17 years to wait and find out if the Government can actually still afford to pay me a State Pension!

 

My calculations are basic, to say the least; based on my current lifestyle and increasing it in line with 2.5% inflation (a conservative guesstimate), my £4,000 per annum becomes over £6,000 - things could cost over 50% more by the time I retire and could be double their current prices by the time I reach 85! (I may not, in which case I'll need to hope that the tiny life assurance policy is sufficient to cover funeral expenses - happy, am I to be dwelling on such thoughts!)

 

So, back to the lying down thinking of this long-term possible predicament, where and how best could a frugal living person such as me invest my paltry savings? The volatility of the stock market worries me, the potential for the collapse of the banking industry is a real possibility and keeping cash 'handy' isn't an option if there's potential for the Government to completely change (or even abolish) hard cash. Future fantasy it may seem, but the ring of truth cannot be ignored.

 

What do we NEED?

 

Food & water

Clothing

Shelter 

Energy

Good health

Fitness

 

What do we WANT?

 

Comfort

Enjoyment

Relaxation

Stress-free living

 

As frugal investors, we need to look back and see what progress has been made over the last 50 years in order to be able to grasp the possibilities for the next 50. The old quote about man living for three score years and ten is now outdated - some haven't even given up fulltime work by that age now and could still have about 30 years to go; that's like another lifetime for some reading this!

 

Nuclear powered electricity for homes first came to the fore in 1951 but let's skip forward to the 70's, because I know many of us were around then. Looking back over this relatively short period of time, we see the following inventions developed and brought to the mass market:

 

Pocket calculators

Videos

Compact Discs (CDs)

Satellite broadcasting

Car phones and mobile phones

Computers

Mass produced electronics

Microchip technology

Games consoles

World Wide Web

High speed Internet access

Cloning & Genetic Modification

 

The list is endless, but even the most frugal of us have experience of at least one of the above and we no longer consider things like digital communications or genetically modified foods as anything special. (I use the 'genetic modification' term broadly.) We have power at the touch of a button, can speak to people practically anywhere in the world and can do most things at whatever time of day or night we want. We can go virtually anywhere in the world, we can travel further and faster than ever before and we can even go to the edge of space and leap to earth in safety - how fantastic does all of that sound when we look back over history? How crazy is it that I can sit here right now and key in a few letters on a keyboard and see the Sphinx and Great Pyramids in aerial view or travel along YOUR street, looking at your neighbourhood? It's phenomenal! We have witnessed a whole new world develop before our very eyes and, with every new day that arrives, we see the beginnings of the next new world unfolding.

 

Stay 'with it', because history has a habit of repeating itself. It may not be an identical tragedy, the exact same virus or a similar weather phenomenon, but nature rules supreme and we can never know what's around the next corner. We COULD soon reach a stage where our elderly residents are reaching the age of 150!

 

Oh my, I have wandered completely off course again and need to get back on track - we're supposed to be solving the problem of affording our retirement, not wondering what life could be like at 150...

I need coffee!

Kindling Sticks and Free Firewood

Who Buys Kindling Sticks?

Recently, I was chatting to someone on the phone when they asked me if I'd be interested in buying chopped sticks for kindling the fire. I found this quite amusing, as the thought had never really crossed my mind to BUY such a thing, despite the fact that I do shell out almost £1 at a time for a box of firelighters. I'd prefer not to, obviously, but needs must when you are in a hurry to get some heat going in the place and the sticks and logs are damp. Anyhow, the conversation prompted this blog post.

 

Pallets make great firewood, most rural dwellers with open fires, stoves or logburners know this and most downshifters soon learn. Not only do the pallets split into fantastic firewood, they make great kindling sticks. But burning pallets isn't always the best thing to do, especially as a frugaler. First and foremost, we need to build them into other, more important things that we need. Pallets are like gold, we treasure them. If, like us, you have no vehicle in which to transport pallets, then any that do come your way have to be used accordingly, otherwise it's a bit like burning money.

 

To date, we've had duck houses, planters, fencing, quail housing, compost 'bins' and log stores all built from recycled pallets and offcuts of wood, but we are now down to our last 3 pallets... a tragedy, in my book! There may well be more in the future, but many of the builders' merchants are now charging for them or else insisting they be returned, so I'd to think very carefully how best to utilise the last of our stash. The decision was soon made... we need a stick store, thus freeing up valuable space in the log store.

Stick or log stores are easy to make, when you think about it - they just need to contain the fire fodder and keep the rain off it while allowing the wind to blow through and dry it all. So, another little corner was cleared and the three pallets propped up and nailed together, secured with a piece of board across the top.

The top board has now been felted and a raised base made by laying straps of wood across the bottom.  We've already begun filling it up with all the sticks that are beng collected from around the garden and along the roadsides as we walk/cycle - most brought down by the weight of the recent snow. It shouldn't take long to fill it up at this rate, then it's just a case of keeping it topped up with whatever kindling we can lay our hands on for free. A cubic metre's worth of free, covered space dedicated to storing free sticks - nothing like being prepared.

This basic design, if I can even call it that, is the same one used for so many pallet projects. I've even seen goat housing and poultry sheds built this way and, nearby, there's a wildlife hide constructed in the exact same manner. A piece of tarpaulin draped over the front is sufficient to stop the rain blowing straight in and soaking everything.

Next time you spot a pallet lying by the roadside, in a skip or cast aside in any other way, think of the real frugalers - we simply love our old pallets.

Frugaldom.

Winter Warmers

Preparing for Spring

I'll try to keep this brief, as it's supposed to be a quick update prior to the end of the month, but so many things have been happening recently!

First of all, the stove has, at long last, been fitted! Yeah! The job was completed on Sunday and 'Wilbur' has been blazing gently to settle him in for the past day, being lit again first thing this morning. The difference is utterly amazing!

As expected, the stove/logburner installation project was done on a budget. The new hearth takes the form of two stone slabs traded for locally with friends who are having the remains of an old fireplace in exchange. The fireproof backplate is an offcut of sheet steel sprayed black with stove paint. In all, I think the entire works, including having the old chimney opened up, repaired and fully lined, cost approximately £600.

The plasterwork all needs reinstated, but I can live with it like that until spring. We've already moved the couch into the room and are slowly emptying the livingroom in preparation for having the fireplace in there rebuilt. But better still, the stove top kettle has been used for the past 2 days, meaning we haven't had to switch on the electric kettle! Brilliant! Everything is drying out nicely and it means there's a warm room in the house to return to after a cold, wet walk. I like that part the best! We're also well prepared for power cuts now.

The budget is doing well, despite everything! All the major spends during the first month of the year take their toll - annual telephone line rental for one thing - and that certainly isn't helped when you lose your regular source of income, which I did at New Year. As of 1st February, I'll no longer have a source of regular, guaranteed earned income, it will be based on whatever, whenever, as I'll no longer be committing myself to contracts. But that's another story.

February, as you may all know from previous years, is my major effort to shift the excess 'flab' gained over winter. Shortest month of the year, so minimising the food intake doesn't seem so bad when it's for just 28 days. It gets me back on par for the spring and, of course, this year's BIG fitness challenge, to climb Ben Nevis.

I do quite a bit of walking, so that's nothing new, but I've never climbed a 'proper' mountain, unless you count the Merrick . My 'relearning to ride a bike' is sporadic, depending on how slippery the roads are, but winter probably wasn't the best time of year to lose the car. On that subject, the household has now been without a car for two full months and we've worked my way up to 20 miles of cycling, which is almost enough to get me to the Co-op and back. It's certainly enough to get me to the post office or village store, so that's all that counts for now.

As for hill walking... different story! Frugaldom lies in a fairly flat area and the highest hill I've ever climbed in my life is the Merrick, which I did in August. This tiny lane, only 2 miles long, is the hilliest road we have about here. I'm told that if we (friend's coming with me) can walk back and forth along this five times consecutively, then we are walking fit for Ben Nevis - but it won't prepare us for the intensity of the prolonged ascent or descent of Britain's highest mountain. It's going to have to, because it's the best we've got! (I'll go play in the Galloway Hills whenever a lift is available.)

 

 We need to be fit enough to climb Ben Nevis in May, when 9 of us are meeting in Fort William. (Still room for one more if anyone I know is interested?) As it rarely snows here, but can snow on the summit all year round there, I certainly made the most of what little we had! In the short space of time the snow lay here, we climbed two of the little hills nearby so I could test my super-duper, reduced in sale, Regatta boots. I still can't get my head around how they can be waterproof when they look like loose-weave fabric, but my feet remained dry at all times, even during a very squelchy, muddy walk to the loch. This bodes well for the Ben Nevis walk, as I'm assured the big hill will throw everything it's got at us, both on the way up and en route back down again.

 

Fundraising is going slowly. I'm not deducting any expenses from the funds raised, the cost of the trip is being met by each individual as per any other holiday. I'm not sure where I'll find sponsors but I did make a few baby McGonks to sell in the charity auctions. The results were very disappointing, to say the least. Of those that did sell, I'd like to thank the buyers for helping me get off the starting blocks with my charity fundraising to help with our local Lifeboat Funds. I see a few more pounds have just dropped into the pot, so I'll go and count to see if we've made it to £40 yet.

 

If anyone would like to donate via Paypal, please feel free to do so by gifting payments to nykmedia@aol.com with reference 'PIRSAC', which represents the Port William Inshore Rescue Service, Scottish charity number SC027347. We also have a donations page set up on the website at www.scottishmultimedia.co.uk/McGonks/Donate.htm

 

Until next time,

NYK and the McGonks in Frugaldom